Chennai: In a major step towards defence self-reliance, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday inaugurated 'Agnishodh', the Indian Army Research Cell, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

The facility aims to bridge academic innovation with battlefield requirements as part of the Army's larger transformation agenda.

The initiative aligns with the Army's focus on Modernisation and Technology Infusion, one of the five transformation pillars outlined by the COAS. During his address on “Operation Sindoor - A New Chapter in India's Fight Against Terrorism,” Gen. Dwivedi described the operation as an unprecedented 88-hour tri-services offensive that redefined counter-terror strategy through precision and strategic impact.

The COAS underlined the Army's preparedness for fifth-generation warfare involving psychological operations, non-contact combat, and tech-driven dominance. He emphasised ongoing collaborations under national technology missions such as INDIAai, Chip-to-Startup, and Project QuILA, with MCTE Mhow as a key partner.

Praising IIT Madras for initiatives like Project SAMBHAV and its partnerships in additive manufacturing, Gen. Dwivedi said Agnishodh would act as a catalyst in converting research into deployable defence technology. The cell will also operate from IIT Madras Research Park alongside the AMTDC and Pravartak Technologies Foundation.

The Army Chief later visited the Officers Training Academy (OTA), where he reviewed training frameworks and presented Veteran Achievers Awards to four ex-servicemen. He reiterated the Indian Army's vision for a 'Decade of Transformation' to equip forces for evolving warfare.